Twitter Slams Bernie Sanders For Opening First Women's Convention In 40 Years

The Women's Convention, a three-day event to begin October 27, is an outgrowth of that march.

The participation of Sanders-who unsuccessfully challenged Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016-was confirmed by the Women's March on Thursday. Hundreds of thousands of women attended the Women's March on Washington on January 21, the day after Donald Trump's inauguration.

On the opening night of the first Women's Convention in decades, more than 3,000 women and progressive activists will hear from a white man.

"I think that right now, no one can deny that Bernie Sanders is probably one of the most powerful US senators. on progressive issues, women's issues, mobilizing millennials".

Sanders is the latest high-profile name to be added to the itinerary of the upcoming convention, which is expected to draw as many 5,000 women from all over the world along with politicians, activists and celebrities.

"I'm honored to join the women at the front lines of our struggle for economic, social, racial and environmental justice", said Sanders in a statement reported by the Detroit Free Press.

According to the Women's Convention's official website, the event that will run from October 27-29 in Detroit 'will bring thousands of women, femmes and our allies.for a weekend of workshops, strategy sessions, inspiring forums and intersectional movement building to continue the preparation going into the 2018 midterm elections'.

Protesters walk during the Women's March on Washington, D.C., on January 21.

During the 2016 presidential election cycle, Sanders won MI over eventual Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the state's Democratic primary.

"I don't know what's dumber: people thinking the #WomensConvention can afford Hillary or Beyoncé or that they think it's a moneymaking scheme", one user tweeted. Many commentators pointed out that the symbolism of a white man opening the conference-the first national women's convention in 40 years-undermined the goals of the Women's March.

MSNBC political analyst Joan Walsh remarked sarcastically: 'Might just be me, but I'd have loved to see a woman keynote the Women's Convention'. Sanders denied that his comments were sexist.

Women's March co-founder Tamika Mallory defended their headliner, insisting he knows how to galvanize Millennials.

In her 2017 book on the election, What Happened, Clinton also accused a segment of Sanders backer-known as the Bernie Bros-of "harassing my supporters" on social media.

The event's organizers issued a statement Wednesday following the heavy backlash present on social media over Sanders.